Several parents and students told the Seguin Independent School District Board of Trustees at its December meeting that they want a clearer, faster districtwide system for reporting, investigating and resolving bullying and harassment.

Public commenters described cases they said had resulted in long delays or inadequate follow-up and urged the board to adopt uniform, enforceable procedures. In response, a representative from the district’s student services office described the district’s formal reporting and investigation process, including timelines for campus and district review and options for supportive measures.

The district heard extended public comment during the meeting’s audience participation period. “It took 39 weeks to remove this teacher from the classroom after multiple reports,” parent Caitlin Acuity told the board, describing a case she said involved alleged inappropriate touching and delayed removal. “That makes me feel very uncomfortable as a mother,” she said. Several other speakers asked the board to adopt a single, written framework for reporting, investigating and responding to incidents districtwide.

Student speakers also described personal experiences. A student who identified herself as Marla, a sophomore at City High School, said her stay-away order had been violated “multiple times” and that she had been threatened; she said school staff told her “there was nothing that could be done until it actually happened.” Another student, speaking as Addison Phillips, pressed trustees to prioritize students’ mental health, saying “we want to come to school… We really do,” and urging the board to act so students feel safe attending classes.

District staff responded with an overview of the formal process for handling reported incidents. “The administrator begins investigation the next full day after the report is made,” the student services presenter said, describing the campus-level steps: an administrator-led investigation, review by a campus bullying committee, and a subsequent review by a district committee. The presenter said the district committee provides an independent review to ensure the campus followed required procedures and that parents are notified of the determination by day 10 of the process.

The presenter also outlined typical corrective and supportive measures the district may use, including increased supervision of campus “hot spots,” counseling or restorative conferences when both parties agree, targeted interventions for involved students, and parent outreach. She said even when a report does not meet the legal definition of bullying, the campus can still put in place supportive measures for the targeted student and for others involved.

Several speakers, including members of a local group describing itself as Safe and Seguin, said teachers and staff had told them they feared retaliation for reporting incidents and urged stronger protections for employees who raise concerns. Commenters asked the district to make available verified prevention programs, to align calendars so parents can participate in both school and city events, and to make reporting paths and timelines easier for families to find and use.

Trustees and district leaders discussed next steps: improving communication about where to submit a report (campus administrator, central office, or the district’s online reporting tool), clarifying expected response times, and continuing staff training. A district official said the online incident form is fillable and can be emailed or printed and turned in at any campus, and emphasized that parents and students may request follow-up from central office if they do not believe a campus response resolved the matter.

Speakers called for additional mental-health resources and for the district to consider program-level changes the board could adopt to reduce retaliation risk and shorten the time from report to resolution. Trustees did not take a formal policy vote at the meeting; district staff said they expected to continue communications with stakeholders and to present updates at future meetings.

Ending: Parents and students who addressed the board asked trustees to prioritize both prevention work and faster, more transparent responses to incidents. District staff said the established process would continue while staff review opportunities to improve communication, training and available supports for students and employees.